Engine.



-110.7992119. EATENTED MAY 19, 1909. I. CEEICER C MERCER.v

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED EEE. 1s. 1902.

3` SHEETSY-SHEET 1.

TH: mums PETERS cc. PNoTo-Llrno, wAsmNaToN. n. c.

No. '128,283. Y PATRNTRD MAY.19,'1903. T. OFFICER R H. H. MRRGRR. .RNRINR` APPLICATION FILI-1D FEB. 13. 1902. l

Tu: Nonms PETERS co. Primo-Uwe.. wmNGYoN m, 1,.

, N0.7z8,2ss. PATENTED MAY '19, 1903...

T. oEEIGER R E. E. MERCER.

`NGINE.

APPLICATION EILEDEER. 13. 1902. l

-No MDEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

Y NITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

lPATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS OFFICER AND `HENRY H; MERCER, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMP- SHIRE, ASSIGNORS TC SULLIVAN-MACHINERY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION CF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

`- -ENGINE.

SPEGIFIGATIQN :bmg part of Letters Patent No. 728,283, ama May 19, 1903 Application filed February I3, 1902. Serial No. r92,931. (No modali) To a/ZZ whom t may concern: Y l

Be it known that we, THOMAS OFFICER and HENRY H.v MERCER, residents of Claremont; in the county of Sullivanv and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement-in Engines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description thereof. Y

Our invention relates todirect fluid-pres- 1o sure engines-such, forinstance, asfare usedv for operating drills or'other reciprocating tools, although the invention isapplicable tol any type ot' direct-acting engine.

The invention relates to that-type ofdirect- I5 acting engines wherein the main valve is operated by fluid-pressure, preferably-by live viding a differential piston for operating the valve, which dierential piston is continually subjected on its smaller area to live -fluid z5 pressure, and providing means for alternately admitting similar fluid-pressure and exhausting it from the other area of said piston. The means for performing this latter function is preferably a valve whichis actuated by a tail- 3o rod on the main piston. l

Afurther objectfof our invention is to provide adjustable buffers for limiting the travel of the main valve, so as to regulate the stroke lof the main piston.Y One of these buffers is under the control of the operatorofthe machine and is arranged to throttle-the exhaust, so as to check the speed of the main-piston.

Further objects of our invention aretoimprove engines of this type in details of con- 4o struction, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front view of the engine-cylinder, partly-inv section. to better show the main-valve bulers and piston. Fig. 2 is a sidev view ofthe same, partly in section. Fig 3 is a transverse section thro ugh'the re versing-valve and upper steam-chest; and Fig. 4 isa similar section through the main-valve chest and main cylinder, the valve and piston being omitted.

' The engine embodying our invention may 5o be operated by either steam, air, or other gas under `pressurerbut for convenience of description we shall-designate the operatingliuid as steam,.? that being the agent preferably employed in this engine; but it will oe understood 'that the invention is not limited to steam-engines.

@Our invention has beenshown in the drawings as applied to an'engine used on stone 4drilling and channeling machines in which 6o the'cylinder is placed in a vertical position; but this is merely illustrative, and the inven-v tion is not limited thereto. In thefollowing description, however, terms are used which Vrefer to the vertical arrangement of the cyl- -inder, this being done merely as a matter of convenience, and said terms will be under- -stood to indicate only the relative and not the absolute positions of the parts, as the engine may be placed in a horizontal or any 7c other position, if desired.

In the drawings the main-cylinder body is shown at l, and it is provided on opposite sides with the guides 2, which move up and down in the grooves of the standard in drilling or channeling machines,as will be readily understood.- The'cylinder-bo'dy is provided with a vertical opening or hole 3, which is adapted to receive the feed-nutin which works the orstone-drilling machine and -Will-.be understood without further description At 4 is shown the Aset-screw` for holdingthe feed-nut in place. Aportion of the lowerhead of the cylinder is shown at, said head beingprovided with arecess 6 for an ordinary stuifing-box and having the piston-rod 7 projecting through an opening therein. This piston-rod is formed integrally-with or suitably in turn has attached thereto, preferably by being forged thereon, the tail-rod 9, which projects upwardly through the-upper cylinder-head l0 and into a chamber 1l, formed in an extension-head l2. The heads 5 and 10 o5 are secured to the body of the cylinder by means of the bolts 13, said bolts extending through the holes 14 in the cylinder-body.

dinary feed-'screw of a well-known type of 8o secured to the main piston 8, and said piston 9o The parts so far described, except for the tailrod 9 and extension-head 12, are or may be of the usual construction, and further description is not necessary.

On one side of the cylinder-body and cast with it is the valve chamber or chest 16, in which is located the main valve 17. The Valvechamber 16 has communicating therewith, preferably about at its vertical middle, the inlet-port 18, and just above and below this inlet-port the said valve-chamber communicates, by means of the ports 19 and 20, with the upper and lower ends of the cylinder. Above and below these ports 19 and 20 the valve-chamber 16 communicates, by means of the ports 21 and 22, with the exhaust-port 23, which extends through the casting of the cylinder-body and may be connected, as at 24, with any convenient exhaust-pipe. The main valve 17 is provided with the pistons or disks 25 and 26, which are connected by the neck 27, these pistons or disks fitting snugly in the valve-chamber and closing the dii-ferent ports by passing beyond the same, as will be readily understood. In Fig. 1 the main valve 17 is in such position that the steam or other fluid from the inlet-port 18 will pass through the port 2O to the lower end of the cylinder, while the upper port 19 is opened to ther exhaustport 2l. When said valve is moved upward to its other position, the port 2O will be cut oft" and communication established between the inlet-port 18 and the port 19, leading to the upper end of the cylinder, while at the same time the port 20 would be opened up to the exhaust-port 22. This main valve is ad apted to be operated by fluid-pressure, and for this purpose we employ a differential piston, which differential piston may be formed separate from the main valve and may work in a separate chamber, but which preferably is integral with the main valve and works in the same chamber therewith. As shown, the said valve has connected to its lower end by means ot' a neck 28 the head or piston 29, which is of comparatively small area, while at its'upper end it has connected thereto by means of a neck 30 the head or piston 31, which is of comparatively large diameter. These two heads or pistons 29 and 3l constitute the differential piston for moving the main valve. Fluidpressure is constantly maintained below the piston 29 by means of a suitable port or passage 32, which, as shown, is bored through the valve and the piston 29 and connects the chamber below the piston 29 with the inlet-port 1b' at all times, so that fluid-pressure is maintained constantly on the lo\'ver face of the piston 29. This port or passage 32 might, however, be cored ont in the casing of the valve-chamber, as will be readily understood, the essential being that a constantly-open communication be formed between the source of live iiuid and the valvechamber underneath the piston 29. The result of this is that there is always present fluid-pressure underneath the piston 29,which in the absence of pressure above the piston 31 will elevate the valve, but which pressure will be overbalanced by the admission of an equal duid-pressure into the chamber above the larger piston 31. A port or passage'33 leads into the chamber above the piston 3l for the purpose of supplying at the proper time the requisite pressure above said piston to lower the valve. This port or passage 33 may be controlled by a valve operated in any suitable manner or from any suitable source; but we have shown the same controlled by means of a valve which is actuated from the tail-rod 9, as will now be described.

The port or passage 33 extends up through the cylinder body and head 10 and into the extension 12 and opens through a port 34 in a valve-seat 35, formed in said extension. This valve-seat is also provided with a port 36, which communicates, by means of a passage 37, with the exhaust-port 23. A cover-plate 3S is secured to the extension 12, so as to form substantially a steam-chest 39, which is in constant communication, as through the port or passage 40, with the source 13 of live duid. Working in this valve-chest on the valve-seat 35 is a valve 42, which has a passage 43 cored therethrough and opening on the face thereof at such distance apart that such openings will bridge the ports 34 and 36. This valve may be moved by any desirable mechanism; but we have shown the same engaged by a finger 44 on a collar 45, located in the chamber 11 and surrounding the tailrod 9. The tail-rod is provided with one or more spiral grooves 43, which is or are engaged by a suitable projection or projections 49 ou the collar 45. As a. consequence vthe recprocation of the main piston and the tailrod will impart a rocking or oscillatory movenient to the collar 45, which through the finger 44 will move the valve 42 on the seat 35. Then the valve is in the position shown in IOO IIO

Fig. 3, the live fluid entering through the port 40 will pass, by means of the port 33, into the valve-chamber above the large piston 31, therebyoverbalancing the fluid-pressure underneath the small piston 29 and holding the main valvein its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby admitting fluidpressure underneath the main piston 8. As the piston and tail-rod travel upwardly, however, and after the piston has made a sufficient portion of its'upward stroke, the spiral grooves on the tail-rod will rock the ring 45 and move the valve 42 over toward the left in Fig. 3, so as to connect the port 34 with the port 36, thereby connecting the valve-chamber above the piston 31 with the exhaust-port and relieving the fluid-pressure above said piston. The pressure underneath the smaller piston 29 will then raise the main Valve, thus admitting fluid-pressure to the upperend ofthe main cylinder, which will drive the main pistou 8 down. \Vhen said main piston has traveled a sufficient distance on its downward stroke, the Valve 42 by means IIS IZO

maar',

of the spiral` grooves in the tail-rod will be again moved back to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus again admitting fluid-pressure above the larger piston 31 to again depress the main valve. These operations will continue in succession at the will of the operator.

To regulate the amount of steam admitted to the cylinder, suitable adjustable buffers are provided to limit the movement of the main valve in both directions. The buffer shown at the lower end comprises the rod 50, which is threaded into a holder or sleeve 51, which in turn is threaded into an opening inthe lower end of the casing 16. The holder 51 is adapted to be secured in place by means of the lock-nut 52, and in order to hold the buffer 50 in its adjusted position it is provided with a transverse opening 53, and the lower end of the holder 51 is provided with a series of slots 54, six such slots being indicated on the drawings. A suitable pin, preferably a split pin, is passed through the slots 54 and opening 53, thus locking the butter 50 in the holder and preventing it'from turning. It will be readily understood by an inspection of Fig. 1 that if said butter is screwed upwardly it willvlimit -the downward travel of the main valve 17, and thus restrict the opening from the valve-chamber to the port 20 and in thatwaylimt the amount of steam passing to the lower end of the cylinder. Inversely, when said buffer 50 is screwed downwardly the main valve 17 can travel down farther, thus increasing this opening and the amount of steam passing to the lower end of the cylinder. The upper end of the casing 16 has also threaded fthereinto la sleeve `or holder 56, which is held in position by means of the lock-nut`57 and which vhas formed therein the stuffing-box 58, through which passes the buffer 59. This buffer is normally held up by the spiral spring 60, and its position is determined by means of the screw 61, which is tapped through a lug 62.0n the extension-head 12 or other suitable part. Connected to the screw 61 is anarm 63, to which is attached a rod 64whose ends will be conveniently accessible to the operator of the machine. By working this rod the operator can adjust the screw 6l and in that way adjust the position of the butter 59, so as to limit the upward travel of the main valve 17.

This in the manner above described will reg-l ulate the amount of steam or other fluid pass-g ing to the upper end of the cylinder. The screw 61 is never locked in adjusted position, but is always free to be rotated, so that it can be quickly adjusted by the operating-rod 64.

Formed upon or suitably secured to the lower end of the buffer 59 isa cup 66, in which the head or piston 31 works. This cup is provided with an opening 67 for admitting into its interior the fluid -pressure coming through the port V33, and its lower end extends downwardly intoV the exhaust-passage 21. By operating the screw 61 to the desired degree the buffer can be depressed to such an extent that the cup 66 will either entirely close this exhaust-port 21 or will throttle it to such an extent as to cause the Huid-pressure tocushion above the main piston 8, and

in this mannerthe speed of the main piston can be checked.

The tail-rod chamber 11 is closed by means of theplug 70, and a plug 71 closes an oilchamber 72, which is arranged at the side of the tail-rod chamber and communicates with the latter by means of a hole or opening`73.l The oil-chamber is arranged to hold quite a quantity of o il, and this tlows through the hole 73 into the tail-rod chamber, oiling the moving parts, such as the collar 45, the reversing-valve 42, and the piston 8. The oilcup is preferably cast with the tail-rod case 12. The operation of the engine will be gathered from the foregoing description and is as follows: 4Supposing the main piston 8 to be in its uppermost position and the main valve also be in its elevated position, in' this position the reverse-valve 42 connects theport 34 with the exhaust-port 36, so thatl there is nofluid-pressure above the piston 31, and the steam-inlet 18 is in communication with the port 19, leading to the upper end of the cylinder, while the port 20 is opened to the eX- haust-'port 22. After thepiston 8 has traveled a sufficient distance downward the spiral groove in the tail-rod will move the valve 42 the valve against the lower buer 50. This ywill connect the upper end of the cylinder with the exhaust.- port 21 and connect the lower end of the cylinder with the steam-inlet 18, which will force the piston 8 upwardly. After it has traveled upwardly a' suicient distance thevalve 42 will be reversed to connect the port 34 with the port 36, and the steam above the piston 31 will be exhausted. This will permit'the fluid-pressure linderneath the piston 29 to move the valve against the top buer 59 and again put the valve in such position that the steam will be exhausted from the lower end of the cylinder and admitted to the upper end thereof. There is always live fluid-pressure in the space between the pistons 25 and 26 which can How through the port 32 Vto the chamber underneath the piston 29, so that in the absenceof pressure above the piston 31 the valve will be held elevated, and, on the other hand, it will be overbalancedV by admitting pressure onto said larger piston. It itv is desired to give more 'lift to the piston, the buffer ,50 will be lowered, which will give the valve a greater travel downward and vopen the port 20 wider. This will admit `more steanito'the lower end ofthe cylinder and give the piston a stronger and quicker motion upward. By screwing the buerO upward theireverse re-` su'lt will be given-that'is, the valve travel lcO los I IIO IZO

will be shortened andthe amount of steam passing to the lower end of the cylinder will be lessened. Similar adjustment can be given to the upper buer 59 by means of the screw 61 in order to increase or decrease the power and speed of the downstroke. This buffer 59, however, has a twofold function, one being that just described-that is, for varying the amount of steam passing into the upper end of the cylinder-and the other being that by a greater movement of the governing-screw 6l the exhaust-port 21 can be entirely or nearly closed, so as to cushion the piston 8 in its upward travel. It can also be moved downwardly to such an extent so as not to allow the valve 17 to come up high enough to let steam out of the port 20 into theexhaust-port22,thus cushioningthe downward stroke of the piston,as well as checking its upward stroke. The important cushioning, however, is in the lower end of the cylinder, as just described; but this does not stop the movement of the piston entirely, but checks it, so that it does not strike with sufiicient force to injure the lower head. The closing ofthe exhaust-port 21 is accomplished by the cup 66, which is sufliciently long when forced down to entirely or partially close this port and is always sufficiently long to allow the extreme travel of the piston 31 in it when it is not used for cushioning purposes. By means of the screw 61, therefore, the control of the piston 8 is in the hands of the machine operator, and as in channeling-machines the tool-holder or cross-head is usually attached to the piston-rod 7 direct control over. the same is had.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, luid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a screwthreaded buffer for limiting the travel of the main valve, and a slot-and-pin connection between said buffer and its holder for locking the buler in its adjusted position.

2. In a direct-actingfluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, fluid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a freely-adjustable buffer for limiting the npward travel of said main valve, and means under the control of the operator for Varying the position of said buifer.

3. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same,tluid-pressure means for operating said main valve, a buffer for limiting the upward travel of said main valve, a freely-adjustable abutment for regulating the position of said buffer, and means under the control of the operator for varying the position of said abutment.

Il. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, tluid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a buer for limiting the upward travel of said main valve, a freely-rotatable screw for regulating the position of the buiter, and means permanently connected to said screw and under the control of the attendant for adjusting said screw.

5. In a direct-acting duid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided withinlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, liuid-pressnre-actuated means for operating said main valve, and means under the control of the operator for th rottling the exhaust from said cylinder.

6. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, liuid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a bilder for limiting the travel of said main valve, and means for adjusting said bulfer, said buier being arranged to throttle the exhaust-port and check the speed of the piston.

7. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, a dierential piston for operating said main valve, a movable cup in which the larger area of the differential piston operates, said cup being adapted to throttle the exhaust-port, and means for adjusting the position of said cup.

8. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, a differential piston for operating said main valve, a movable cup in which the larger head of said dierential piston moves, said cup being adapted to throttle the exhaust-port, means for adjusting the position of said cup, and means for admitting duid-pressure into said cup above said piston.

9. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling'the same, luid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, an adjustable buffer for limiting the downward travel of the main valve, means for locking said butter in its adjusted position, a quickmoving adjustable buler for limiting the upward travel of the main valve, and means under the control of the operator for varying the position of said last-named buifer.

10. In a direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a main valve for controlling the same, liuid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, an adjustable buffer for limiting the downward travel of the main valve, means for locking said buffer in its adjusted position, a freely- IOO IIO

rotatable screw forlimiting the u pvvard travel of the main valve, and means connected to said screw and under the control of the oper- 11. Inadirect-actingHuid-pressure engine, the combination With a cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, of' a main valve for controlling thersame', apiston Working in said cylinder, a tail-rod connected to said piston, uid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a valve and ports and passages for controlling the iiuid-pressure-actuated means, and connections between the tailrod and last-named valve for operating the latter. y Y

12. In a'direct-acting fluid-pressure engine, the combination With a cylinder provided With inlet and exhaust ports, of a main valve for controlling the same, a piston Working in said cylinder, a tail-rod connected to said piston, Huid-pressure means for operatingsaidmain valve, a valveand ports and passages for controlling the iiuid pressure -actuated,means,

,and spirally-arranged connections between the valve and tail-rod for actuating said lastnamed valve.

13. Inadirect-actingfluid-pressureengine,

. the combination with a cylinder provided with inlet land exhaust ports, of a main Valve for controlling the same, a piston Working in said cylinder, a tail-rod connected to said piston, fluidfpressure-actuated. means for operating said main valve, a stealn-chestconnected to the source of live steam, a valve-seat therein having an exhaust-port and a port leading to the main-valve-operating means, avvalve on said seat for controlling saidports, and connections between the tail-rod and last-named valve foroperating the same.

14. In adirect-actingliuid-pressureengine,

. the combination with a cylinder provided With inlet and exhaust ports, of a mainvalve for controlling the same, a piston Workingin said cylinder, a tail-rod connected to said piston, a differential piston for operatingsaid main valve, avalve and ports and passages for admittin g fluid-pressure to said diierentialpiston, and connections between the tail-rod and last-named .valve for actuating the same.

15. In a direct-acting Huid-pressure engine, the combination Witha cylinder provided with inlet and exhaust ports, ofk a main valve for controlling the same, a piston Working in said cylinder,`a tail-rod connectedto said piston, a dierential piston for operating said main valve, a port or passage for maintaining iiuidpressure on the smaller area of said dierential piston, a valve Aand ports for admitting pressure to and exhausting it from the `larger area of said diierential piston, and connections between the tail-rod and last-named valve for actuating the same.

16. In a direct-actingfluid-pressure engine, i

the combination with a vertically-arranged cylinder provided with inlet and-exhaust ports, of a main valve for controlling the same, a piston workingin said cylinder, a tail-,rod connectedto said piston and Work-4 .ing in achamber connectedl to thefupper cylinder-head, iluid-pressure-actuated means for operating said main valve, a valve actuf atedby the tail-rod for controlling the'fluid: pressure-actuated means, andanoil-chamber communicating with the upper Yend of the tail-rod chamber.

In testimony whereof We,-the said THOMAS OFFICER and HENRY H. 'MERcER,have hereuntoset our hands.

THOMAS OFFICER.

. Witnesses:

ALBERT BALL, ASA H. HARRIS.V

HENRY H. 'MERCER 

